Removing our Blinders: Even When You Think Your Eyes Are Open...
We think an open, honest, to the point, conversation with one of SC’s most forward thinking leaders is a terrific way to start 2021 and will inspire us to always be working to remove our blinders. After all, Even When You Think Your Eyes Are Open, There’s Work To Be Done!
In a conversation with Together SC president, Madeleine McGee, Anita Zucker will share her thoughts on how we must always be learning and working to further our understanding of the experiences of others and the racial inequities in our state.
Anita Zucker has long been one of South Carolina’s leading philanthropists and business leaders. As CEO of The Intertech Group, she has worked with leaders from across the social and political spectrum. And as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, she knows of pain and suffering.
Sponsored by:
Anita Zucker's letter sent this summer
Dear Friends,
BLACK LIVES MATTER, and SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION.
We grieve the brutal murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Walter Scott and so many others who deserve to be named. We stand with those who protest across the country to bring justice and reform to our system, to prevent this senseless brutality and to resource communities with positive investments.
Systemic racism and bias are built into the fabric of our nation, a history we know from our own city, Charleston, South Carolina, where people were dehumanized--brought in chains as prisoners and slaves to build a nation that has not sufficiently recompensed or protected their descendants. Racism and oppression have shape-shifted, but are still as present as ever, from the implicit biases we each hold, which we must bring to the surface, to institutionalized racism.
Our late founder, Jerry Zucker, lived his life guided by core tenets, which he imbued in each of us:
- Never be a bystander to hate.
- Have a sense of urgency in everything you do.
- Always have a bias towards action.
We redouble our commitment to these tenets and vow to continue to educate ourselves, hear the diverse voices of our community, and take actions to support dismantling racism and delivering justice to victims of racism and bias.
- We will listen to the voices of our employees and community. If you have thoughts or concerns you would like to share, we invite you to be in touch. Please email justice@intertechsc.com.
- We will work with community organizations and community leaders to find and drive forward system reforms that can lead to ending institutionalized racismand increasing positive investment in impacted communities.
- We will explore and uncover our own biases and do the deep work necessary to support racial justice in the smallest corners of our lives.
There are organizations locally and nationally, which are close to our hearts, which we support and recommend that you explore:
- Coastal Community Foundation
- Tri County Cradle to Career
- South Carolina Community Loan Fund
- YWCA Greater Charleston
- Racial Equity Institute
- Equal Justice Initiative
- Color of Change
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This moment is an essential wake up call for all of us. We must work hard as a community to take on this responsibility. All of our actions and willing involvement are necessary to bring about real change.
We commit ourselves to take these steps forward and invite you to join us.
With deep wishes for solidarity and peace,
Anita Zucker
Attendees (137)
Laura Allen
Executive Director
Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas
Nancy Appel
Coastal Conservation League
Martha Armstrong
n/a
Gateway Greenville
Tami Barlow
Director of Operations
Charleston Promise Neighborhood
Lizzie Bebber
Executive Director
United Ministries
Mac Bennett
Nonprofit Sector Consultant
Beam and Hinge
Dorothea Bernique
Executive Director
Increasing H.O.P.E Financial Training Center (FTC]
Tatjana Beylotte
Executive Director
Charleston Jazz
Mandy Black
Executive Director
Little Steps
Becca Bosch
Program Sustainability AmeriCorps VISTA
NAMI Greenville
Antonio Boyd
President and CEO
Think Tank Consulting Group, LLC
LaTonya Boyd
Executive Director
Chester County First Steps
Steven Burritt
Regional Executive Director
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mary Butz
Administration & Office Coordinator
Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative
Caroline Byrd
VP of Corporate Development
Trident United Way
Alyssondra Campaigne
Principal
Engage Strategies, LLC
Crystal Campbell
Executive Director
Dorchester County First Steps
Tannesha Clements
Executive Director/ COO
Lydia's Bowels of Mercy Home, Inc
Sydney Conrad
Director of Education and Training
My Sister's House, Inc.
Amanda Cote'
Director of Finance & Operations
Charleston Parks Conservancy
Dan Daniel
Director of Advancement
Charleston Parks Conservancy
Kara Davis
Executive Director
Illumination Research & Analysis, LLC
Beth De Santis
CEO
Fact Forward
Stacey Denaux
CEO
One80 Place
Nicole Echols
Chief Executive Officer
Harvest Hope Food Bank
Liz Evans
Development and Marketing Director
St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic
Kelley Ezell
Executive Director
Upstate Family Resource Center
Erin Fisher
Global Engagement - South Carolina
The Boeing Company
Diane Flanagan
CEO
Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina
Jeffrey Fleming
Executive Vice President
Palmetto Project, Inc.
Karen Franklin
Senior Director of Foundation Relations
Clemson University
Jean Cecil Frick
Chief Operating Officer
NP Strategy
Rachael Fulmer
Chief Operations Officer
Lutheran Services Carolinas
Betty Gardiner
Director of Grantmaking and Development
South Carolina First Steps
Grace Gasper
Executive Director
Friends of Coastal South Carolina
Sherry Gilliam
Executive Director
Charleston County First Steps to School Readiness
Kecia Greenho
Executive Director
Reading Partners
Dodi Hodges
Executive Director
Palmetto Literacy Council
Amelia Holcombe
Program Officer, Lowcountry Artistic Vitality
Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Melanie Huggins
President & CEO
Richland Library
Lesa Kastler
The Community Foundation of Greenville
Lelia King
Executive Director
Build Carolina
Paige Knowlson
Executive Director
Pattison's Academy
Peg Lahmeyer
Executive Director
The ARK of SC
Amanda Lawrence
AVP, Community Engagement
Trident United Way
Terri Lottchea
Operations Manger
Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation
Donn Mack
Executive Director
South Carolina Community Health Worker Association
Phyllis Martin
Executive Director
Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative
Kimberly Martinez-Ward
CEO
Compass of Carolina
Sara Massey
President
Syn-Mass LLC
Jeff McCormack
Executive Director
SC Physicians Care Charity
Madeleine McGee
Former President/CEO, Together SC
Together SC
Bob Morris
President
Community Foundation of Greenville
Debbie Nelson
President and Founder
DNA Creative Communications
Mamie Nicholson
President
The Self Family Foundation
James Orlick
Director Foundation Relations Equity & Inclusion
Director of Foundation Relations (Inclusion and Equity)
Kathleen Papadimitriou
CEO
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston
Erin Pate
Community Liaison
EHP & Associates
Daniel Prohaska
President & CEO
Lions Vision Services
Barbara Rackes
CEO
SC Women in Leadership
Holly Raines
Volunteer and Development VISTA
St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic
Filippo Ravalico
Director of Operations
South Carolina Environmental Law Project
Elmire Raven
ECCO Volunteer
East Cooper Community Outreach
Megan Reilly
Development Director
Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services
Angie Reynolds
Director of Education
Trident United Way
Luanne Rodgers
Chief Philanthropy and Mission Advancement Officer
Windwood Family Services
Jennifer Rogers
Former Executive Director
Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS)
Allison Safford
Community Investments Officer
Hollingsworth Funds
Bonnie Scapellato
Director of Development
Charleston Collegiate School
Catherine Schumacher
President/CEO
Public Education Partners
Samantha Scott
Corporate Relations Manager
Charleston Parks Conservancy
Michelle Shain
Senior Director of Development
United Way of Greenville County
Brenda Shaw
Chief Development Officer
Lowcountry Food Bank
Minor Mickel Shaw
Chairman
Daniel-Mickel Foundation
Katy Smith
Executive Director
Piedmont Health Foundation
Sherrie Snipes-Williams
CEO
Charleston Promise Neighborhood
Paige Stephenson
President & CEO
United Way of the Piedmont
Leslie Stroud-Romero
Independent Grant Writer
Laser Nonprofit Solutions
Leigh Thomson
Executive Director
Dorchester Seniors, Inc.
Erin Ulmer
Executive Director
Camp Rise Above
Ann Warner
Interim CEO, International Center for Research on Women
Women's Rights and Empowerment Network
Laryn Weaver
Executive Director
Greenville Area Parkinson Society
Ashley Whitt
Vice President of Grants and Community Impact
Spartanburg County Foundation
Janie Williams
Administrator
V.V.Reid School
Judy Wilson
Director of Development
Greenville Tech Foundation, Inc.
Ericka Wooten
Director of Culture and Values
Sisters of Charity Foundation of SC
Belle Zeigler
Executive Director
Eastern Carolina Community Foundation
Samantha Zimmerschied
Executive Director
The Advanced Institute for Development and Learning
